Some pictures taken in August

Here are some pictures of me taken recently..

Swimming


A day with mummy after she returned from her work trip



Rub-a-tub, tub-a-tubby...fishing


Having my hair cut




Spotting a kitty cat face after my lesson at GUG

18 months old!

Wow.. time flies and I am already one and a half years old. Mummy has been very amused and impressed by my antics lately.

I have a few more words added to my list of spoken words: star (with high pitch), fish (ish), doctor, no, butterfly (but), circle, mall..

I am able to name more items now.

I can recognize Singapore flag and will say, "star", or "oh neh, neh, neh" with the action! In case you do not know, I am trying to sing one of the Youth Olympic songs. Even the stars and moon on the police crest do not escape my eyes and I will go "neh, neh, neh" also.

I am addicted to kissing. I will kiss any cute plush toys, characters in my books, daddy and mummy affectionately on their lips! Mummy says I am so passionate that I will even close my eyes while kissing!

I can even reenact what had happened to me. Last night, mummy was taking her shower when daddy had to go to the toilet urgently. They heard me cry suddenly and rushed out almost immediately but I had since stopped. When mummy asked me what had happened to me, I walked to where my toy was, leaned against it, sat on the floor, pointed to the floor and touched my head. Mummy could not believe it and ask me again and I did the same. Mummy was so impressed by me for being able to communicate and recount what had happened.

I enjoy dancing with HI-5 and any catchy songs. Mummy likes to see me waving the scarfs, to imitate the flapping of the butterfly's wings as we sing along in GUG!

I have a bigger appetite too. I will also want to try what daddy and mummy are eating even when I have just finished my meal. My feeding schedule currently:

8 am : 260ml milk
10 am : cereal + cheese/egg/fruits
1 pm : porridge
4.30 pm : 260ml milk + fruits/snacks
7 pm : porridge
10.30 pm : 280ml milk

Mummy is very proud of my achievement and thank God keeping me safe, healthy and happy! She is so addicted to me!

Elijah and GUG

Mummy signed up for the Parent n Babe weekend class at GUG for me. This programme is meant for the 8 months to 18 months old. Mummy like the way I am exposed to Zoo-phonics, numbers, songs & dance, hands-on activities, story-telling etc. Yet again, I am not attentive in class at all time!

As you know, I am an active toddler. How do you expect me to sit through the duration of one and a half hour! I will be distracted by the toys place at the side of the class, pretty little mei mei, and I will play or do things my way, differently from what has been instructed! Mummy always has a hard time to get me to comply as I will jump, shake my head and cry to rebel at times.

However, my mummy is very relieved that I am showing improvement in terms of adjusting to the classroom environment after the third session. I particularly like the songs & dance and story-telling. I will sit and listen attentively to the teacher when she reads and show me the book.

Mummy hopes that even if I am not showing that I am paying attention, I am still absorbing..haha.. By the way, mummy keeps chanting the Zoo-phonics at me..rather irritating yah!

Updates!!!

Gosh! It has been about half a year since the last update in January! Mummy has been very busy, juggling with work, housework, and me. It is not easy being a full-time working mum. Anyway, here is an update on me.

1. I started walking at 13 months and have since been very adventurous... climbing up and down the bed, sofa and coffee table. Mummy's heart will drop whenever she sees me walking on the sofa (so near to the edge!). I will also dance and turn round and round until I become dizzy. Mummy limited me to turn only two rounds the most.

2. I am currently 16 months, weighing 12.2kg and measuring 83cm tall. My pediatrician said I am between 90 and 97 percentile for both weight and height for my age group. Isn't it a great achievement exceeding so many toddlers especially since I am a pre-term baby! I am indeed very well-fed!

3. I am talking much more. I can say the following words: apple, amen, ball, bird, nana (as in banana), curtain, car, dadi (as in daddy), ma ma, mum mum, mo (as in Elmo) and lots of other words which I invented myself!

4. I can understand and perform instructions very well.

5. I can identify some parts of my body by pointing to them. Eg. eyes, mouth, nose, head, hair, fingers, toes, hands, legs and stomach.

6. I can relate the purpose of item and put it correctly in place. Eg. I always given mummy her pair of bedroom slippers by placing at her feet, I pass daddy and po po their spectacles and placing at their eyes, I touch my head whenever I see a cap or hat, I look/point to the clock when mummy ask me what time it is etc...

7. I like all things round or circle in shape. Therefore, I like vehicles with WHEELS, BALLS, BALLOONS! I will also involve in imaginary play, pretending that I am turning the steering wheel and driving by turning a round plastic lid or a container!

8. I like to watch okto channel especially programmes like Hi-5, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Yo Gabba Gabba! However, mummy doesn't like me to glue to the TV for too long and so I can only watch selectively.

In fact, the list can go even longer but mummy chose to end here. She has to create new posts and upload lots of pictures of me taken since the beginning of this year!

Playing soccer

I started to like kicking ball when I am 10 months old. Here's a short clip of me in action. Very soon, I will be able to play soccer with daddy.

I am 10 months old

Time files and I am turning 1 in just two months' time. I have been spending a lot of time with mummy lately as she is currently a temporary SAHM (stayed at home mum). However, everything will revert to normal soon when school reopens in January.

Both of us enjoy the time bonding together during this period and mummy is proud to witness some of my new antics.
I am able to:
- recognise apples, oranges, fish, orchid, christmas tree, star etc.
- identify red and blue colours correctly when mummy asked me to take the balls from the christmas tree
- pull to a standing position effortlessly
- stand with support or sometimes with one hand support
- cruise around by holding on to furniture
- call \dæ dæ\ as in 'daddy' when he is not around. I refuse to call daddy upfront
- scream and cry when any of my beloved items are taken away from me
- come to mummy and scream to demand for more bread (my current favourite is chocolate wassant from Provence)
- do gong xi gong xi
- respond to sayang by hugging mummy tightly and pulled her face to kiss
- offer the other leg by lifting it up without being told when removing my pants while standing

Mummy is very proud of my achievements and is grateful to God for blessing me, keeping me strong, healthy and happy.

A is for Active

Time flies and I am already 8 and a half months old. I am getting more and more active. I am so energetic that mummy wonders where I get my energy from. I am definitely not a small eater, neither am I a big eater. I have been consuming 4 feeds of milk and 2 feeds of solid-food since 5 months old. The portion of porridge/cereal has also increased significantly. However, I seem not to be putting on weight as fast as before due to the increase in physical activities. I will spend my waking hours playing, reading, observing, learning, jumping, crawling, dancing by shaking my body and the list goes on...Let me show you some evidence of me busy in action.

Jumping like an expert in my jumperoo..Mummy finds me so hilarious..Hear my screams of excitement


Turning and flipping


Laughing and playing


Crawling and smiling to the camera

Yet another trial class

It was a lazy Sunday morning on 27th September. I have to sacrifice my beauty sleep to attend my class at Kindermusik.

The class started at 10a.m. and we were 10 minutes late despite daddy's record of reaching Tanglin Mall in about 10-15 minutes (Thanks to the smooth traffic condition). All the other babies have already finished their warming up and started shaking the maracas along with the music. I cried the moment I was seated with mummy as she passed my maracas to me. I was overwhelmed by the loud noise and the unfamiliar surrounding as I missed the warming up session at the beginning.

Mummy showed me around the room and comforted me. Very soon, I smiled to her and we joined in the fun.

Look! I was looking intently at the instructor demonstrating with the drum. I like scratching instead of hitting the drum.


Verdict: I enjoyed myself more at Stage n Such. Mummy thought so too. Anyway, she is going to arrange for another few more trial classes at Gymboree, My Gym etc. before deciding on which to sign up.

My first taste of semi-solid food

Mummy started to introduce me to semi-solid food when I turned 5 months 1 day old on 18 July 2009.

Mummy has been preparing for this day since a month ago by reading up and buying all the necessary bowls, spoons, storage cubes, hand-held blender, Healthy Times brown rice cereal etc.

She found these two books really come in handy. They contain easy to prepare recipes for purees and porridge from 4 months and up. "Top 100 Baby Purees" by Annabel Karmel and a local published book, "First Food" by Anna Jacob & other co-authors.

To date, I have eaten brown rice cereal, apples, pears, bananas, carrots, pumpkin, spinach and sweet potatoes. They are all so yummy! Mummy and po po both agree that I like semi-solid food more than milk.

Here's me having my very first taste of semi-solid food on 18 July 2009.




See my love-hate relationship with the apple from my facial expression. Mummmy thinks I look extremely cute here.



Mummy will steam the ingredients and then make them into purees. She will then transfer them to small storage cube to have them frozen.

I am 5 months old

I turned 5 months old on 17 July 2009. Mummy has been waiting eagerly for the day to arrive as she wants me to have my first taste of semi-solid food. More about the introduction of solid food will be posted up separately.

Mummy DIY-ed by weighing and measuring my length at home as I will not be going for my vaccination this month. I weighed approximately 7.2kg and measured 67cm long at 5 months 2 days old.

About me..
I place everything I can get hold of inside my mouth.

I roll to my side in my sleep and even manage to flip in my space-constrained cot.

I chuckle whenever I am tickled.

I laugh and squeal whenever I play.

I cry and scream louder as my lungs get stronger.

I make noises when I am bored.

Daddy says I 'buay tiam buay teo' (a description in hokkien). Meaning I have a pointy butt and cannot sit still and therefore need to be entertained at all times.

See, I am so determined to pull daddy's finger


Got it! I won! I am stronger than daddy to overcome his resistance

My Sophie

Mummy bought this Sophie la Girafe for me. It was love at first sight as I could not stop staring at it when mummy showed it to me. Then, once I grabbed it, it went straight to my mouth.

All things that come to my hands will go into my mouth


More information - http://www.sophielagirafe.co.uk/
Me and my other combi teether

I will also lick and suck my toy

First flip (yes! it is confirmed)

I finally managed to flip from my back to my tummy after much struggling on 16/6/2009 at 8.10am. This occurred just one day before I turned 4 months old.

Let my share with you briefly how I achieved my first flip.
1. I have been rising my legs very high while lying down for the last week or so
2. I started to turn to my left side very often a few days later
3. Then I decided to turn my buttock and my body downwards from my side and I succeeded after a few tries whilst screaming as I still do not know how to take my left hand out from being trapped under my body

Mummy thinks that I am a determined little boy who tries so hard to flip by myself despite a few unsuccessful attempts.

Now, ever since that day, I have been flipping and in the process, getting a good workout. Mummy is so encouraging and cheers me on all the time. She assures me that I will be able to flip without struggling soon as my muscles get stronger day by day.

Finally after trying to capture me in action for a long, a decent video of me flipping.

Tummy time

Everyday, I will hear mummy announces in her cheerful voice, "It's tummy time!"
Mummy says the more I pursue this activity, the more I will be able to achieve lifting my head higher and pushing up on the arms. This muscle development will later help in the sitting and standing functions.

I can hold my head rather high now.




However I will wail for 'help' when I am tired.

First flip or not??

Mummy will always help me to flip from my back to my front for tummy time as I have not yet mastered the technique for flipping. Suddenly, on 7 June 2009, she saw me rolling my head and flipped back to my back again. She was taken by surprise! Mummy wondered whether I have finally known how to flip by myself and thus placed me on my front again. However, I did not perform the stunt for mummy again. Mummy thought this should not be my genuine first flip but rather an incidental one. Keep a lookout for mummy to update about my real flip soon (hopefully).

Fearless for the needles

I took my 5 in 1 vaccination and rotarix with Dr Ong on the same day as my 3 months assessment. Mummy had initially wanted me to take 6 in 1 but Dr Ong advised not to as it is too lethal for small babies and the tendency to develop a fever is very high.

Dr Ong was so skillful and swift while giving me the injection that I did not cry at all. I still smile at Mummy when she picked me up. Mummy and po po praised me for being a brave boy. However, when the nurse administered the oral dose of rotarix using the syringe, I fussed and shook my head.

I was prescribed a bottle of antidote for fever and mummy had to monitor my temperature for the next 24 hours. The trigger temperature for fever is 38 degree celsius when taken with a ear thermometer or 37.5 degree celsius when taken at the arm pit.

Mummy conscientiously took my temperature and thought that I might not have a fever after all since 20 hours had passed. She had a shock of her life when she stared at the digital display. It read 38.4!

She reacted very fast by feeding me the medicine, sponging me and putting the cooling pad on my forehead. My temperature dipped to 37.6 half and hour later and mummy was so relieved. I could play and smile at mummy. All thanks to mummy for taking care of me.

Feeding stress

Mummy brought me for my vaccination and 3 months assessment on 19 May 2009. She has been looking forward to this day as she needs to get some assurance from my paediatrician regarding my feeding habits and growth. She is very concerned about me drinking lesser than when I was one month old. I used to drink about 120ml of breast milk/formula 7 to 8 times a day. But right now, I am only consuming 150ml 5 times a day. I also do not really like to drink milk and will cry and refuse to suckle. Mummy will need to spend about an hour to feed me most of the time.

Dr Ong said it is normal for 3 months old babies to drink lesser than before and reassured mummy that different babies have different feeding habits. He said some babies need to be half asleep or suckle on the pacifier on and off while feeding. It is still considered normal and should not be a cause of concern. Mummy was so relieved to hear that and tears were welling up in her eyes as she recalled the stress and worries she experiences everyday when she feeds me.

In fact, he mentioned babies' weight gain will slow down at this stage and should double their birth weight when they reached 4 months. I have already doubled and Dr Ong told mummy not to feel stressed or compare my weight with other babies who were born heavier. Mummy hopes that this is just a passing phase and I will soon be drinking well.

I weighed 6kg at 3 months 2 days old.

Cot mobile

All thanks to Uncle Sebas, Auntie Rynn and Auntie Shuhua for the Fisher-Price Rainforest cot mobile. I begin to enjoy looking at it more and more these days. I will gurgle, squeal and smile when I see my animal friends turning round and round. Mummy says this is my way of communicating with them.

my view


mummy's view


in good mood

Setting a good example

Daddy and mummy would like me to pick up the habit of reading. Thus, mummy has been showing me some cloth as well as picture books while daddy would like me to see him reading. Here's an evidence of it..

After manicure

Ever since mummy weaned me off my mittens after I turned 1 month old, she has been pampering me with manicure service weekly. Check out my fingers and what I can do with them.
Manicured hands I can grab and hold my handkerchief, my milk bottle, mummy's hair, po po's necklace.. I can hit my toys, daddy's stubbled chin, mummy's face..
I can also taste my hand..yummy..

Wind, wind, go away

wind, wind, go away
don't ever come back to Elijah again

wind, wind, go away
don't ever come back to Elijah again

This is what mummy will sing to me when I cry between feeds or during feeding.
It is really a challenging task looking after me as I will fuss and cry, lately accompany with screams, everyday since I was about 5 to 6 weeks old. Mummy has tried many ways to get rid of my wind. Ru Yi oil, rid wind baby drops, Gripe water, burping me in different positions etc..

Colic has disrupted my feeding so much that I will cry after every few suckles and I am drinking lesser. Daddy and mummy feel very heart aching seeing me suffer. Mummy says colic is a vicious cycle and the more I cry, the more air I will take in.

On 17/4/2009, Mummy brought me to a paediatrician even though my condition has improved slightly. She was told to continue giving me rid wind 3 times daily and Gripe water once a day. The paediatrician merely prescribed a bottle of probiotic drops for me to boost the good bacteria and strengthen my gut. He assured mummy not to be too concerned over me drinking much lesser as my weight gain was satisfactory, 1 kg gained since I last weighed 3 weeks ago.



I was prescribed the last product shown in the picture

Information taken from: http://www.biogaia.com/Page/Standard/147/What-is-Lactobacillus-reuteri.aspx

What is Lactobacillus reuteri?
Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) is one of the most well researched probiotics with respect to health effects and safety. The bacteria strains used in BioGaia Probiotic products were originally sampled from human body sites.

L. reuteri has a natural health-promoting role and it is scientifically proven to help protect us from the actions of harmful bacteria in the stomach, the gut and the mouth. L. reuteri also strengthens our immunity.

BioGaia Probiotic products deliver live friendly Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri). The products are intended for the support of gut, immune and oral health.